When Vladimir Nabokov died in 1977, he left behind the unfinished manuscript of a novel that was to be titled, The Original of Laura. Horrified by the thought that the incomplete and imperfect novel might one day be published, he instructed his heirs to burn the manuscript. His wife couldn’t bring herself to do it, however, and his son recently announced that he will, in fact, have the book published. (See the related New York Times article.)
The eventual appearance of The Original of Laura will no doubt reawaken interest in the other books that Nabokov wrote during his long and fascinating literary career. If you're unfamiliar with Nabokov's work but would like to discover why so many readers and great writers revere him, then you might want to jump right in and read his two most celebrated novels, Lolita and Pale Fire, both of which appear on the Modern Library's list of the 100 Best Novels.
If you're put off by the disturbing themes of Lolita or daunted by the baffling complexity of Pale Fire, however, rest assured that there's an easier way into Nabokov's fictional world. Listed below are three fabulous books that will provide a less challenging, but still very fulfilling, introduction to Nabokov's work.
1. Laughter in the Dark - A wicked yet hilarious novella about a wealthy art critic whose life falls apart when he abandons his wife and daughter at the urging of his beautiful, heartless mistress. It's written in a spare and lively style and almost seems like a fairy tale at times.
2. Speak, Memory - Nabokov's elegant and highly stylized memoir, which traces his life, and the development of his art, from his idyllic and tremendously privileged childhood in pre-revolutionary Russia through his two decades of impoverished European exile. Nabokov's lack of self-pity, his ability to remain happy despite enormous personal loss, and of course his masterful writing, are inspiring.
3. Pnin - A tender yet unsentimental portrait of a hapless Russian émigré, Timofey Pnin, who teaches at a provincial college in the Northeastern United States. Elderly, isolated, unloved, and lacking the respect of his peers, Pnin nevertheless transcends the tragicomic mess of his existence and emerges as a dignified, noble, and even mildly heroic character.
Submitted by DK.